How Pips works
Pips is a logic puzzle played with dominoes. Each domino has two halves showing 0 to 6 pips (dots). You place every domino on the board so that it covers two neighbouring cells, and every coloured region follows its rule:
- A number: the pips in the region add up to exactly that number.
- = every cell in the region has the same number; ≠ every cell is different.
- < or > a number: the region’s total is less than, or more than, that number.
Cells without a colour have no rule. There are three puzzles a day: easy, medium and hard.
How to use these hints
- Pick your level with the Easy, Medium and Hard buttons.
- Open Where to start for cells whose number is forced by a rule, such as a single cell marked 0.
- Open one region’s answer to see just its numbers, counting cells from the top-left of your board.
- Use Next domino to reveal the solution one domino at a time, or show the full solution.
Pips strategy
- Start with the extremes. A region of 0 is all blanks, and a two-cell region of 12 is two sixes. Look for the dominoes that can fill them.
- Count the dominoes. If only one domino has a 6, only one cell on the board can hold a 6.
- Mind the equals regions. A large “=” region needs several halves with the same number; check which number appears often enough.
- Watch the shape. A cell with only one free neighbour must share a domino with that neighbour.
Like word puzzles too? Try today’s Wordle hint, Connections hints and Strands hints.
Hints for today’s other puzzles
Source and disclaimer: Pips is a puzzle game by The New York Times, and Pips is its trademark. This site is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by The New York Times. Please play the puzzle on the NYT Games site or app.
The hints, explanations, statistics and word meanings on this page are our own. We show the day’s answers (facts), hidden until you reveal them, but not the puzzle itself: no boards, grids or clue wording.
Rights holder with a concern? Contact us and we’ll review it promptly. See our disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
When does the new Pips puzzle come out?
Every day at midnight in your local time zone. This page updates daily and shows the puzzle for your date.
Can a Pips puzzle have more than one solution?
Sometimes other placements also satisfy every rule. The solution shown here is the game’s own, but any placement that follows all the rules works.
What does a region with no number mean?
Uncoloured cells have no rule, so any number can go there, as long as the dominoes fit.